The Message of the Gurus

Takeaway: Impermanence is at the core of suffering. If we can make peace with the natural ebb and flow of creation, we will find true happiness. This is what the gurus have been telling us.

In the vast Indian tradition of yoga, there are many, many gods, goddesses, seers, saints, gurus and holy men who have taught on the subject of spirituality and divineconsciousness.
The messages they’ve given us are deeply profound and endless in
number. Here we’ll touch upon one of the primary teachings - that of impermanence - which lies at the heart of the
gurus’ messages to humanity. (Read more on How to Find Your Guru.)

The Message: Impermanence is Reality

First and foremost, there is a cosmic energy
that pervades all life. It’s responsible for creation, the sustaining
of creation and the dissolution of creation. Then it starts over,
creating the universe once again. This process of sacred creation can be anything – a relationship, a
thought, a material object, whatever. First it is created, then
it is sustained for a time, and finally it is destroyed. This is the nature of reality because at the heart of it all everything is impermanent.

The
gurus teach us that impermanence is the reality of the spiritual path.
There’s nothing permanent in this world except our pure awareness,
our pure consciousness and, of course, change. Everything else is
constantly arising and falling away. The teachings advise us to
get comfortable with this reality of impermanence. If we don't, we’re
going to suffer. One of the main aims of yoga is to cut the cord of
suffering. (Learn more about the Roots of Suffering.)

Trust the Gurus' Perspective Over Your Own

From a Tantric
perspective, this entire process is hidden from the
human eye. We don’t realize this process is happening over and over
again. Luckily, the gurus have described this to us in their teachings.
This hidden sacred reality can be unveiled through our spiritual practice.
If this all sounds terribly esoteric, that’s because it is. It’s also
the beauty of the message of the gurus. They were able to tap into a higher level of consciousness and, through their
teachings, this consciousness has been made accessible to us all.

The Tantric
gurus have also shown us what we have forgotten is
that life is a continuous play of ever-changing sacred energy. It is Brahman (Absolute Reality). In our daily lives, instead of recognizing this, we get attached to things, people and situations. We cling to them, unable to let it all go and see
it as the divine play it really is. We forget that everything is ultimately part of a
greater living, breathing sacred energy that is pure consciousness itself. When we realize and accept
this, our lives become more fluid and effective. When we are able to see this play
of life as it really is, and accept its innate impermanence, life becomes more lighthearted.

Applying the Message of Impermanence

The gurus have taught us that through the inner exploratory practices of yoga, asana, contemplation, meditation, and living in such a way that is aligned with particular teachings (like those of Patanjali, for instance), we can be yogis living the yoga experience, not getting tossed and turned upside down by the impermanent flow of life. In doing so, we uplift all those with whom we come into contact.

We
can apply this process to our own lives. We want to be in the creative
flow rather than in a state of reactivity when things don't go "our way." Meditation and journaling are two effective tools that can help us do this. Setting an intention on how we want to create our lives any given day is also helpful.

When
it comes to sustenance, we can connect to what is truly nourishing to
us. Things like good sleep, organic food, sunshine, fresh air, moderate
pleasure, yoga practice, meditation, work and income, healthy
friendships and romantic partnerships. All these things help to sustain
and support us.

To further support each phase of impermanence (creation, sustenance and destruction), we can invoke the various gods and goddesses. For instance, Saraswati and Brahma are the creation deities. Vishnu and Lakshmi are the deities of sustenance, while the more fierce deities such as Kali and Durga help in the process of destruction. (Read how in Invoking Durga Within You.)

Turning the Message into Lasting Happiness

The
gurus teach us that if we can learn how to cultivate the art of non-attachment, we will experience less pain, less anxiety
and less depression. If we can learn how to enjoy the little deaths that
happen each moment, we can cultivate loving non-attachment. When we
see things for what they really are, we become awakened beings – and
that’s something to look forward to! (Read on about The Wisdom of Non-Attachment.)

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Aimee is a yogi and writer who's been practicing yoga daily for nearly two decades. Since a journey to India when she was 20, the practice has been her constant companion. She loves exploring the vast and seemingly endless worlds of yoga. Aimee has also written a book called, "The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures in Love & Sex," available on Amazon. Full Bio